Tom Petersen, Author at Omaha Criminal Defense Lawyer

What Is a Suspended Sentence?

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Criminal Law on Wednesday, July 18, 2018

If you were recently arrested for the first time, you are probably dealing with a wide range of heightened emotions that may include denial, fear, anger, and confusion. On top of your heightened emotions, you are now trying to navigate a legal system with which you are unfamiliar. At some point the prosecuting attorney will probably offer you a plea agreement that requires you to plead guilty in return for a lighter, pre-determined sentence. Understanding the terms of that sentence will be crucial to making a well-informed decision about whether or not to accept the plea agreement. You should never

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5 Things You Need to Tell Your Criminal Lawyer

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Criminal Defense on Wednesday, July 11, 2018

If you find yourself a defendant in a criminal prosecution, you are undoubtedly worried about how your case will turn out. The best thing you can do to ensure a positive outcome is to retain the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney. If you have never before needed a criminal defense attorney, however, you may unsure how your relationship with your attorney is supposed to work. You may also be hesitant to confide in your attorney. Considering the important role your attorney will play in the outcome of your case, having a good working relationship with him/her is crucial.

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Drug Busts on I-80 Lead to Record Seizures

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Uncategorized on Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Anyone who is familiar with the Interstate I-80 corridor through Nebraska knows that it is frequently used to transport drugs. To better understand the problem, as well as law enforcement efforts at combatting the problem, an Omaha I-80 drug stop attorney offers the following brief list of major drug busts from a single county (Lancaster) in Nebraska over the past three and a half years. Lancaster County’s Biggest I-80 Drug Busts January 2014 — A deputy found nearly $1 million in vacuum-sealed bags when they stopped Ryan Perich, 30, of Elk Grove, California. Perich claimed he knew the money was

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5 Reasons to Hire a DUI Defense Lawyer

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Breath Test in Nebraska on Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Driving under the influence (DUI) is somewhat unique among criminal offense in that most people arrested and charged with DUI are otherwise law-abiding citizens who had a momentary lapse in judgement, not career criminals who knowingly committed a crime for personal gain. If you find yourself facing a DUI charge, the most important thing you can do for yourself and for your future is to retain the services of an experienced DUI defense lawyer. If you are unsure whether you need an attorney, consider the following five reasons to hire a DUI defense lawyer: To help you navigate the unfamiliar

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Should I Take the Plea Agreement Offered by the State?

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Criminal Defense on Wednesday, June 20, 2018

As a defendant in a criminal prosecution, you will need to make a number of important decisions over the course of your case. One of the most important of those decisions will come about if the prosecutor offers you a plea agreement. At that point, you will need to decide if you want to consider taking a plea agreement at all and, if so, if the agreement offered to you is acceptable. Of course, you should never accept a plea agreement without consulting with your own defense attorney; however, an Omaha defense attorney offers some guidance for those faced with

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Defending a Claim of Dealing

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Drug Crimes on Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Since the War on Drugs began several decades ago, states across the U.S. have systematically increased the penalties for violations of drug-related criminal offenses. Everyone knows that the potential penalties you face if convicted of dealing drugs are dramatically harsher than those associated with a conviction for possession of drugs. How does a Nebraska drug crime attorney defend a claim of dealing? Is it possible to get an accusation of dealing reduced to possession? What Does Nebraska Law Say? Nebraska Revised Statute Section 28-416 governs criminal offenses related to dealing drugs. Specifically, Section 28-416(1) reads as follows: Except as authorized

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Should I Take My Case to Trial?

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Criminal Defense on Tuesday, June 5, 2018

If you were recently arrested and charged with committing a crime, you will have a make a number of important questions in the weeks and months ahead. Many of those decisions will potentially have a direct impact on the rest o your life. Among the most important decisions you will need to make at some point is whether or not to take your case to trial. It is certainly not a decision to be made lightly, nor is it a decision you should make without consulting an experienced Omaha criminal attorney. There are, however, some factors you may wish to

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Nebraska’s Stalking Laws — What You Need to Know

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Criminal Law on Friday, June 1, 2018

Few things are more frightening than feeling as though someone is following you or intentionally trying to scare you. We commonly use the term “stalking” to describe this type of behavior; however, the law historically had a difficult time deciding what behavior to make illegal and how to define actions we attribute to “stalking.” Whether you believe you are a victim of stalking, or someone has accused you of stalking, a Nebraska criminal defense attorney helps you understand the state’s stalking laws. How Does the Law Define Stalking? Nebraska Revised Statute Section 28-311.03 governs the criminal offense of stalking, defining

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Can’t My Spouse Just Drop the Charges?

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Domestic Violence in Nebraska on Thursday, May 24, 2018

There was a time when domestic violence was effectively ignored both society and the law. Both considered it a private affair, meaning people rarely intervened and the law infrequently pursued charges against abusers. Today, however, domestic violence is taken very seriously and abusers are punished harshly by the courts. In fact, sometimes it seems as though the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction, causing law enforcement officers to make an arrest when it really was just a heated argument, not abuse. If you were arrested and charged with domestic assault you may be wondering if your spouse

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Questions to Ask Your Omaha Criminal Defense Lawyer

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Criminal Law on Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Were you recently arrested and charged with a criminal offense? If so, and this is the first time you have been charged with committing a crime, you are undoubtedly worried about the outcome of your case. You are also likely confused and a bit intimidated as you try to navigate the criminal justice system for the first time. The most important step you can take toward protecting your rights and reaching a positive outcome in your case is to retain the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Having never consulted an Omaha criminal defense lawyer before though, you may

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